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Retail roundup: Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Amazon

November 5, 2011 | 6:00
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-- The upscale department store Bloomingdale's is coming to the Glendale Galleria. Parent company Macy's Inc. said Thursday that a 120,000-square-foot Bloomingdale's will slide into the space formerly occupied by Mervyns. That's a score for the shopping center, which has been competing with the Americana at Brand, its rival just across the street (the outdoor mall has already enticed away Nordstrom and Sephora from the Galleria). Construction will begin next year, with the store slated to open in fall 2013.

"Much like Bloomingdale's stores in Soho and Santa Monica, we expect our assortment and shopping experience in Glendale will be carefully edited for the community and customer," Michael Gould, Bloomingdale's chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.

-- Following a parade of other retailers, Macy's announced this week that it will open stores at midnight for the first time ever on Black Friday, four hours earlier than last year. The stores will keep its doors open for 23 hours that day, closing at 11 p.m.

Retailers this year have been trying to squeeze more dollars from shoppers on Black Friday, the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping madness. Target Corp. and Kohl's have also announced midnight openings.

-- Amazon.com isn't planning to wait until Black Friday. This week, the online retailer unveiled its Black Friday Deals site offering two-for-one deals and discounts on gifts for shoppers who don't procrastinate. The deals will be available until Black Friday.

"Black Friday isn't until the day after Thanksgiving, but since you're here already, looking for Black Friday deals, we got the deals going a little early," the Amazon site says.